We all take snapshots, and some of them turn out to be 'keepers'.
But now and then, someone takes a picture and it becomes a
'keeper' for the world.
On February 23, 1945, one of those world-class 'keepers' was
snapped by a war correspondant and photographer, Joe Rosenthal.
He had been working with Easy Company of the invading U.S. forces
near Mt. Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima.
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Mt. Suribachi was properly named, as a 'suribachi' in Japanese
is a type of mortal and pestal bowl used in Japanese cooking
to crush sesame seed and other ingredients into pastes.
The fighting had been inch-by-inch, as the U.S. troops
were totally exposed and the Japanese troops were hidden in caves
in the mountain. Finally, the U.S. troops were able to claim
victory and plant the U.S. flag atop the mountain. This photo
shows the men of Easy Company carrying the flag up the mountain.
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The first flag raising atop Mount Suribachi, February 23, 1945 was by
Hank Hansen (without helmet), Boots Thomas (seated), John Bradley
(behind Thomas) Phil Ward (hand visible grasping pole), Jim
Michaels (with carbine) and Chuck Lindberg (behind Michaels). The
marines who took part in it were still very wary and on guard.
Photo by Lou Lowery. 10AM, Feb. 23, 1945
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But that picture showed a flag which was already raised.
A picture of the actual raising of the flag was needed, so the
flag was raised a second time (actually, a second flag). This
is the photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal. It was later cropped
to become the photo we all know.
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Moments later, Rosenthal snaps a picture of the jubilant victors
around the flag.
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And here is the picture he took of the men celebrating their
success.
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FEEDBACK MAP
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For more pictures, information, and personal accounts of the battle
by those who were there, as well as links to further information,
click
here.
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